> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.gallabox.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.gallabox.com/conversations/initiate-a-new-chat.md).

# Initiate a New Chat

You can initiate a Chat with a customer if you have added their contact in Gallabox or you can add a contact and then send the customer a WhatsApp Template.

{% hint style="info" %}
You can only use [WhatsApp Templates](/basic-modules/whatsapp-template-guidelines.md) to initiate a conversation with a customer.
{% endhint %}

**Prefer a visual explanation?** Watch the video below.

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPR5uVsUQbA>" %}

**Prefer a written explanation?** Read the text below.

## Initiate chat with Customers in 4 ways

### Start Chat with Saved Contact in Gallabox Conversations

Follow the below steps to start a chat with the saved contact.

1. From the dashboard, go to "**Conversations**".

<figure><img src="/files/Na1AQzGOveZaFEeYulKk" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Click on <img src="/files/HdJCw2gqvw2lGeAdb2US" alt="" data-size="line"> to choose the contact you want to start the conversation with. Once you select the contact, the chat window will open.

<figure><img src="/files/kBIkwKXXzZOvni1pXiKW" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. To start a chat with this contact, select a pre-approved template that you would want to send to the contact, fill variables and click send.

<figure><img src="/files/ab2GU5CLHCgSBzdeH1q2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Send WhatsApp Template to Unsaved Contact in Gallabox

If you want to send a message to a contact which is not yet saved on Gallabox, you can *create a contact* and then send a WhatsApp Template as a first Interaction.

Follow the GIF below:

<figure><img src="/files/rsAi3ADPJKXEmGujUU9h" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Individually Send Text to Gallabox Contact

If you individually want to send a text to a contact (*while you are scrolling your contacts in Gallabox*), you can send it by clicking on <img src="/files/16k74HSmT69eFhBwFmre" alt="" data-size="line">as shown in the GIF below:

<figure><img src="/files/3bcKXBwPJUQMEVK6dHDy" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Responding to the customer's message

When a customer sends you a message, you can instantly respond and engage in a chat conversation.

<figure><img src="/files/WmuYsDDvrCZNYg2fOHqo" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>